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Background: A new ultrapulse CO2 laser has been investigated for its possible use in hair transplanting. This laser, because of its ultrashort high energy pulses, produces far less thermal damage to adjacent tissues, including hair follicles, than earlier types of CO2 lasers. The potential advantages of using such a laser in minigrafting are reviewed and include less bleeding, greater density, and absence of "compression.", Objective: The purpose of this study was to see if hair survival in grafts placed into laser-prepared sites would be as good or better than that seen with scalpel slits., Method: Hair counts were used in 10 patients to compare hair survival in grafts placed into laser-prepared sites and into scalpel-prepared sites in a comparable but contralateral location., Results: Average graft hair counts were greater in laser-prepared sites in four of 10 patients, equal to grafts in scalpel-prepared sites in five, and fewer in one. Hair growth occurred earlier in laser-prepared sites in five of the 10 patients., Conclusion: The authors are optimistic that the ultrapulse laser will become an important tool in hair transplanting.

A new technique for upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, combining the advantages of the transconjunctival approach with those of the CO2 laser, is described. The use of the CO2 laser as the only cutting tool eliminates many of the most common and the most serious complications of blepharoplasty attributable to hemorrhage and hematoma. The transconjunctival approach yields superior cosmetic results to those of the more commonly performed traditional techniques, which sometimes results in unacceptable lower eyelid scars and/or lower eyelid retraction. Patient rehabilitation to normal activity is rapid because of decreased bruising and swelling. The laser procedure is well suited to the office-based laser surgical practice, but requires a high degree of skill in CO2 laser excisional surgery. In the hands of the inexperienced operator, new and serious complications may occur.

Thirteen patients underwent blepharoplasty in a paired comparison study. A carbon dioxide laser was employed for one side while standard cold steel surgery and electrocautery was used on the contralateral side. In addition to reduced intraoperative time and bleeding, we found less postoperative ecchymosis and edema on the laser-treated side. Long-term follow-up showed no difference between the two sides when cosmetic end result and scars were compared.

Eight patients underwent carbon dioxide (CO2) laser blepharoplasty. The temperature of the upper eyelid conjunctiva was monitored and recorded during laser surgery. A minimal increase in temperature was noted. This study confirms the absence of thermal injury at a distal site from the laser application and the safety of the laser procedure.

Hands are a primary target for actinic damage and premature aging. Until recently, very little could be done to successfully erase the various signs of photoaging. This article presents a simple technique, combining fat transfer and laser resurfacing, to safely and effectively rejuvenate hands and erase the signs of aging.

A new surgical procedure employing a carbon dioxide laser for treating actinic cheilitis is described. Eight patients having biopsy-proven actinic cheilitis and one patient having clinically evident actinic cheilitis but biopsy-proven superficial basal cell carcinoma were treated by vermilion ablation using the carbon dioxide laser. After an average follow-up period of 34 months (27 to 38 months), no patient has had a recurrence of cheilitis. Normal contour of the treated lip has been preserved in all patients, while none has had significant post-treatment scarring.